Lost in the Woods - 4/7
Author: Daniela
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: McShep
Rating: PG13
Category: Romance, Humor, Mystery
Series/Sequel: No
Summary: One day they get literally lost.
Warning: Slash, M/M, Spoiler for Season 1
Disclaimer: No one of Stargate: Atlantis belongs to me.
Least of all Major John Sheppard. Damn.
Feedback: Yes, please. Every word opens a new gate.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: September 2007
Revised: March 2023
Beta: Susan
Word Count: 3130
A distant sound awoke him ...scrape...scrape... Only slowly was he able to shake off his weariness. His muscles felt hard and stiff and his mouth as dry as a bone. "...someone's fire could need a little more wood..." he exhaled, scratching his beard. ...scrape...scrape... Crap! What's happening? This sound... creepily familiar and yet exotic. He groaned. For the first time in days his body felt not horny but strangely ticklish. As if skin was peeled off. ... ah fuck... that's not it... it feels like... feels... like... John scratched his naked belly, but the itching didn't stop. The sound grew louder ...Scrape...SCRAPE... And the nasty sensation moved over his body. So damn familiar. Like feet. Yeah. A legion of tiny feet. "Huh?" He tore his eyes open. Holy Crap! A million bugs were crawling all over him. They were everywhere. He screamed. His skin was black because of THEM. They were eating him alive. Screaming his head off, he jumped up beating at them. "GET THEM OFF ME! RODNEY! GET THEM FUCKING OFF!"
Rodney startled from his sleep. "What is it now? I can't do it anymore. I need rest."
John kept running around in circles, beating himself. "Get them off! Get them off! Rodney!"
"What? I can't see anything. Stay still, goddammit!" Rodney joined his dance of horror.
"Rodney, please," John whined. "I need them off me."
"Are you going mad? There's nothing on you! Nothing!" Rodney tackled him to the ground.
John kept screaming.
With major efforts, Rodney pinned him down. "Listen to me, John, there's nothing on you... only me."
"But... but... the bugs...."
"There are no bugs. Not one tiny little spider." Rodney put his head on John's chest. "Would I be so comfortable if there were any bugs?"
John groaned in agony but relaxed at last. "But... I... saw them. Felt them even."
"I believe you. They are your tree devils. Your fears are haunting you."
"So it's only my imagination." Gently John pushed Rodney off.
"It's the forest, John. That freaking forest. It gets to you."
"How do you know?"
"I'm a genius, remember?"
"Yeah." John walked to his sleeping place and started to put his clothes on. For the first time in days, he felt uncomfortable being naked. Vulnerable. "We need to get out of here."
"Agreed." Rodney took his jacket to cover himself up. "In a few hours."
"Now!"
"Ah." Rodney smiled. "A few bugs and we're through."
"It wasn't a few bugs... it was an army of them... I..." John flushed. "Don't you think we've stayed here long enough?"
"Certainly, Major. But let me tell you how difficult this is gonna be if you lose it." Right. One tree caught his eye. Nasty-looking wood, pitch black and faceless but for the greenish eyes. Rodney shuddered. Oh god. So, is this only my imagination? How to be sure? The grass was glimmering fully-fledged without a moon shining, always whispering, reaching for...
"I'm not losing it," John denied. "I've just made up my mind."
"So suddenly?" Rodney gloated, satisfied he wasn't the only one half-mad with fear.
"Is that a problem?" John growled.
"Nah." Rodney put his jacket and bag on. "I think I figured out how we may have a chance to get out of here."
Dressed, John packed the few things he had left. "Speak up."
Rodney gathered fruit and mushrooms for their journey. "Have you noticed the one bright star up there?" He pointed at it because he couldn't determine a direction in these woods. "It's the only one that is in the same place every night."
"So?"
"We can use it for direction to keep a straight line."
"I'm able to do that without the help of any stars," John snapped, looking insulted.
"I know," Rodney soothed him, "but not in here. Nothing is the same in this place. It's worth a try, don't you think?"
"I'm surprised you still had the strength to watch the sky at night and were racking your brains too," John quipped. " I remember you whining you have been run into the ground."
"Well, sometimes I woke up because I was hungry."
"Still?" John mocked.
"It's not my fault. This place..."
"Right." John's grin faded like a crushed flower. "Time to get out of here." He walked to the creek and filled their bottles with water. Rodney finished packing as much food as he could carry. Ready, the pair of strays looked around one last time.
Rodney heard the trees whispering their ancient secrets. He gritted his teeth, cussing his empty stomach.
John watched an army of bugs marching through the grass on the other side of the creek. Crap! All those feet crawling up his spine. Sipping at his spinal fluid. He jolted. "Let's go! Show us the way," he encouraged his valued buddy.
"Don't you think it would be better to wait for morning?" Is it? The usual soulless cries started filling the night. He flinched.
"No, I don't." The bugs were coming right at him. Sweat was dripping off his forehead. "It's no use. This circle is no longer a sanctuary. We're in danger of gotten run down in hours."
"You mean our imagination is in danger, right?" A big ugly tree waved his branch at him. Come here. It's not gonna hurt. It's nice as soon as you are eroded.
"Whatever! Does it matter?" The bugs grew bigger. They started to look like the one that nearly killed him that day, clinging to his neck. Turned him into one of them. Wrong. I was dead. I came back to life. I was lucky.
"No, it doesn't," Rodney wailed. The tree started moving closer. It waved all its branches at him now. Christ! He forced himself to look away at the star, their only hope. He started walking out of the circle right back into the thick jungle. Oh God! Don't let us die. Don't let us rot in this eerie place forever.
Surprised that Rodney was taking the lead, John stayed put for a moment, musing about their options. ...SCRAPE...SCRAPE... Fuck! I can't do this again. He sprinted after Rodney and dared not to look back. They are alert. They know me.
For hours they fought their way through the greenish thickness while keeping an eye on the steady star. Sometimes it was difficult. One time they lost sight of its light and marched panicked back and forth until they caught up with the otherworldly glow again. Sweating and panting, they didn't waste their breath for talking, pointing their energy on one aim only. A way out of here!
When the woods gave way to something different it raised their hopes. A cornfield. Well. Not one they knew from Earth. The plants were twice as high as usually and smoldered crimson. The field in whole made a steady tone, like electricity wires. A sound like something was coming towards them. It was as frightening as the woods. But the star led them directly through it.
"I don't want to go in there," Rodney emphasized, staggering.
"Be calm. This is only a field."
"Don't you hear that?"
"What?"
"The field is whispering its secrets to us."
"Don't say that." John frowned. "It's just... the wind."
"It's not. I haven't heard or felt any wind since we got here."
"Rodney..."
"Didn't you read Children of the Corn by Stephen King?"
"That's just a story, Rodney. This is reality."
"Are you kidding?"
"You know what I mean."
"Don't make me go in there."
"Come here."
Rodney obeyed without complaining. He must be really frightened, John thought and pulled him into his arms. "I know how you feel. I feel the same way. But we have no choice. The star points in this direction. It was your idea, remember?" ...scrape...scrape... John briefly stuck to him. I can't go back. They are waiting for me. Don't you hear them? I don't want to be a bug.
"Yeah, sure." Rodney said, fixed on the greenish lights floating inside the cornfield waiting for him to join them. Nasty eyes. The tree devils. Death. Rodney put his face against John's neck. "I know."
"Good. Let's walk on," John said, patting his head.
"Right." Ready to fight anything that got in their way he and John marched on. It was deathly hot between the rows, muggy and sticky despite the night hour. Rodney tried not to look left or right but couldn't ignore the sunflowers with the black blossoms or the steady sound of deep whispers growing louder and more vividly. "We have to get out of here." Rodney wiped his forehead frantically, panting. The air was as thick as if they were inside of a silo. Suffocating. Rodney coughed. "Do...you...hear...me, John? Do you feel it?"
"Sure I am!" John's skin was itching like hell. He scratched and scratched but it didn't stop. Oh crap! His skin was moving. They were inside of him. Eating him. "Leave me alone," he cried, shaking his arms like a madman.
Rodney skipped into a run. He had barely any breath left yet he kept on running, his vision blurry and askew, though he kept an eye on the star above. This is the way. Come on! Then the low gnarling started to chase them, a sound much worse than the screams Rodney had heard every night before, a flat and eternal threat. Hurry up! He covered his ears and ran faster. Oh shit! He stumbled and hit the ground. "OW!"
John, who had been right behind him, nosedived on him.
A growl came from the field. A munch. And the buzzing sound drew nearer and then a swarm of giant hornets were brushing over them. Showing off their stingers.
John stumbled back to his feet. "Get up!" He grabbed his gun and pulled the trigger, not minding at who or what he was shooting. Nothing happened. The gun didn't work. Crap! Why didn't he try this before? What was he thinking? Yeah, well... The corn grew above them, hovering, ready to consume its prey. The hornets turned back aiming right at them. "GO!" he flew into Rodney's face. "Run as fast as you can. I'll watch your back."
"Why you and not me?"
"Because I'm the fucking military officer, McKay! Run! That's an order!"
Rodney obeyed helter-skelter, diving through the mass of corn. Forward. Forward. Just look at the star. The star. That's all that matters. Nothing else. Not even Sheppard. Oh hell! What- Suddenly the field was gone. He was on a path surrounded by the familiar crooked trees and bushes. The grass was yellow though. He gasped for air and kept on running but bumped into a tree and fell flat on his back. "FUCK!" For a moment he rested, suffering aching muscles and severe stitches. He recovered quickly when the tree in question was grinning down at him. Come. I'm hollow. I need stuffing. Rodney moaned. "No. Not anymore. Make it stop." He heard John scream then. "Hang in there," Rodney murmured. "I'm coming." How could I leave him alone? What the fuck? Am I that guy? He pushed back through the maze of hellish corn, ignoring eyes and voices begging him to give in. John's screams faded. Was he losing? Accepting his fate and even madness or death? NO! Like blazes Rodney fought his way through the living walls and almost jerked away when he arrived at the place where John was kept prisoner.
Some... thing...oily and flashing covered his body, sliding above him like a deviant snake, poisoning and engulfing its prey. A prey that wasn't fighting back anymore.
Is this real? Can this be real? Why isn't John the only one to see this? It's his fear after all, isn't it? Rodney closed his eyes and pushed his hand beyond the wriggling skin and grabbed John by the arm, pulling. "Get up! Now! Move or I'll kick your butt from here to Earth, Major!"
John groaned under the blackness. The corn rustled. The darkness munched.
"Don't give me that shit! Are you a soldier or a coward! Come on!!" Rodney pulled harder. The oily pus flowed up his arm. "Get off me!" Rodney cried and fought harder. "Come on, John! I beg you!" A second later he held a trembling man in his arms. "Good job! Let's go then!" He turned around dragging John along. This time the cornrows were even thicker, but Rodney was never more determined. His strength astonished him. He just whipped away every ear trying to stop their flight, and the buzzing hornets flying above he simply ignored. Not there! Not real!
Soon they were back on the path. Not looking at the grinning trees, Rodney led John further and further in line with the leading light of the star. Rodney wasn't sure if it was seconds, minutes, or hours they kept fleeing from whatever lived in these woods, but out of the blue all of it was gone. The trees, the bushes, nature. A blinding light hit them instead, floating around them like a halo.
"We're out!" Rodney yelled, nudging his brother in arms.
The blinking star had vanished. The shine of the rising sun warmed their faces. The biggest star of all had led them back to a sane and bright world they knew and understood. Not safe yet Rodney dragged John further along, too scared to stop, still feeling the pull of those woods from a different universe.
"Rodney... stop..." John gasped, pinching him.
"Okay. Fine. Your call." He stopped yet wary he turned around and observed the beautiful line of the straight trees and bushes from the superior distance. He couldn't believe this was the same place that had kept them prisoners for days. The neat, green circle had the most innocent look. He snorted. A plain forest. Trees without eyes. Grass. Not horny. A sudden breeze made him shiver still. An unknown bird sang his morning song. Whatever. I don't want to know. I never come near it again.
Sheppard clung to him like a wet rag. "Let's go home."
"Already back to ordering me around?" Rodney quipped.
"Barely." He let go of Rodney's arm and turned away from the forest. He couldn't bear to look at it anymore. Squinting at the horizon, he noticed two human shapes coming towards them, although they were far away. "Look!"
"It seems we're not alone anymore," Rodney said, tapping his gear.
"Hey!!" John hollered and shot his gun. Yeah. It worked fine. "We're here!!!"
The two shapes started running. "Major! McKay!" Teyla and Aiden. A minute later, they stood in front of them, bubbling over with happiness.
"Did you get lost?" John joked in an eerily scratchy voice.
"Sir! What happened to you?" Aiden blurted, staring. "You look..."
"Let's not get into this now," John stalled.
"I'm so glad we found you, Major," Teyla spilled in unfamiliar hastiness. "The Frenas told me this particular forest is an unsafe place by all means to avoid." She paused for a moment. "I'm sorry I didn't know until yesterday..."
Sheppard looked at Rodney, showing a spectacular - There! I was right - smile. "Told you."
"Okay. Fine. Satisfied, Major?" Rodney mocked, thoughtless, and bit his tongue. Shut up, idiot.
Sheppard beamed at him. "Frequently."
Feeling a blush creeping up his neck, Rodney looked away. "Give me something to eat, Ford."
"Sure. You're lucky. Atlantis provided us with fresh supplies." Aiden searched his pockets and brought out two chocolate bars. "What's in your bag there?"
"Findings." Rodney unwrapped one chocolate bar and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Dr. McKay's blood sugar must be pretty low," Aiden said, sounding compassionate.
"Not that much," Sheppard quipped. "We found some sweets in the forest, didn't we, Rodney?"
Rodney coughed and almost choked on his bar.
Aiden patted his back. "What happened to your face and neck?"
"I bumped into nature," Rodney snarled.
"That's one way to put it," Sheppard continued pulling his chain.
Teyla ignored their well-known bickering. "You are indeed lucky. We were told whoever enters those woods quickly becomes disoriented and can get lost forever. Only a few people have found their way out again."
"Really?" Sheppard shrugged it off. "I never felt disoriented but rather distracted. Don't you agree, Rodney?"
Teyla wondered why Dr. McKay winced. Didn't he like his chocolate bar? "I hope last night wasn't too uncomfortable?"
"Not that I remember," Sheppard kept up his banter. "We slept pretty tight followed by a hard awakening. But I got a good grip on that. Rodney on the other hand was his whining self..."
"Stop that!" Rodney glared at him. "You think this is funny? This was the weirdest trip of my life, and we never should talk about it again. Ever."
"Well, it was a unique experience," Sheppard explained to the stunned looking Teyla and Aiden. "We don't need to tell you the details."
"Mmpf," Rodney agreed, his mouth full of sweets.
"By the way, what did you mean by last night?" Sheppard wondered. "We were in there for at least five nights."
"What are you talking about, Major? You have been missing for about twelve hours," Aiden said, frowning. "We just agreed to inform Atlantis to send us more men to look for you."
"Twelve hours?" John repeated dully and then shrugged it off again. "Well, anything is possible. Everything in there was different. It's good to be back to the usual routine." He scratched his head. "Let's split. Rodney is in urgent need of a shower."
Rodney stiffened. "True. I have a lot of dirt to wash off." He headed for the gate.
Sheppard winked at Aiden and Teyla and then trudged after him. "Hey, McKay. I was just teasing you. Can I have one chocolate bar?"
Rodney turned around and waved with the desired piece. "I dare you." He skipped into a run. Well, to some degree.
Sheppard laughed and pursued him. "I'm still pretty fast."
Teyla and Aiden stood frozen on their spot.
"Major Sheppard is running without reason," Teyla said in awe.
"Dr. McKay is considering sharing his chocolate," Aiden replied, amazed as well.
"This is strange, don't you think?"
"Yeah. I expected them to be pissed, not acting this weird."
"And they haven't told us anything. What do you think happened in those woods?"
"I don't have a clue, but it could be anything. The people here told us it's jinxed," Aiden said, bemused. "I never thought it could be..."
"Shush!" Teyla hushed him. "It's just a myth."
They silently agreed to delay further discussions and pursued the two men playing tag. Seconds later they heard an awful scream.
"What the...?" Teyla and Aiden both called out seeing McKay collapse as if he were struck by lightning. The major followed up scratching at the air.
